The Negro Scipio

"The Negro Scipio" is an early Oil Portrait by French Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. It features the model Scipion in Cézanne's studio, highlighting his elongated torso and muscular back depicted with broad, expressive brushstrokes. Cézanne skillfully employs a variety of colors to modulate the tones, demonstrating his developing style beyond traditional Romanticism influences. The painting was considered among Cézanne's strongest early works, surprising viewers—like those in Monet's studio in Giverny—and earning praise from critics such as Louis Vauxcelles, who called it a "striking masterpiece" worthy of Delacroix. The work is notable for its innovative use of Canvas surface and its influence on modern Surrealism art.